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A message from League of United Latin American Citizens

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Contact: David Cruz | (818) 689-9991 | [email protected]



LULAC President Makes Surprise Visit To Deported Veterans In Mexico
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Nation’s Oldest & Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Arrives with Former
Army Lt. Colonel, Now U.S. Senator

Washington, DC - Domingo Garcia, National President of the League of United Latin
American Citizens (LULAC) crossed the border early today and traveled to Tijuana
with one of the nation’s leading Congressional advocates for veterans, Senator
Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois). Their delegation also included repatriated Army
Special Forces combat soldier, Miguel Perez and Carlos Luna, Council President,
LULAC Green Card Veterans based in Chicago, Illinois.

“We made this important visit, unannounced for security reasons, to personally
let all deported Latino veterans know that LULAC and Senator Duckworth do not
forget them and we will not stop fighting until each and every one of them has
been returned home to the country they defended,” said Garcia. “Americans must
demand that our immigration laws be changed so that no veteran is kicked out of
the U.S. after putting their lives on the line, come back with PTSD, can’t access
medical care and fall into trouble. They pay their debt to society for their
mistakes but then face a separate penalty because they’re not U.S. citizens and
wind up getting deported. This is wrong and we must repatriate all veterans who
have suffered this injustice,” he added.

The LULAC Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, chaired by Roman Palomares, is
contacting the governors of each of the states where Latino veterans have been
deported and asking them to consider signing acts of clemency allowing the former
soldiers to return to the United States and have new immigration hearings. This
is what was done by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker on behalf of deported
veteran, Miguel Perez who successfully obtained his citizenship on October 4,
2019.

“As I shook the hands of these deported veterans and left Tijuana, I couldn’t
help but feel they’re still soldiers in a different type of combat every day
because their lives are still on the line, “said Garcia. “They’re targets of the
plata o plomo danger because criminals see them as potential recruits and those
who refuse to join them face the very real threat of harm or even death. None of
us must rest until they are safe once again,” he added.

Palomares says Veterans Day is a good opportunity for encouraging our members to
consider veteran-related activities year-round. Visit a VA hospital, unfurl and
proudly display an American flag, reach out to a veteran you know or simply say
thank you to a military service member we might see.

“Being an American veteran isn’t about war or conflict, although we may be called
upon to face that too,” says Palomares. “It is about safeguarding the peace and
helping to make sure that our nation remains a country where people can live free
of fear and that their families can thrive and prosper. LULAC is proud to stand
with them and together, we shall continue to defend and fight for the principles
upon which our nation is founded,” he concludes.

# # #

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and
oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans
and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000
councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and
advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of
today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org.







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